Artificial snow



Patented Feb. 11, 1930 RALPH W. SIMPSON, OF JOLIET, ILLINOIS ARTIFICIAL. SNOW No Drawing.

This invention relates to artificial snow and its object is the provision of a generally improved artificial snow material having 1mproved properties and adapted for improved 5 and simplified production.

The invention provides a material which may be used for simulating snow in connection with Christmas tree decorations, as well as for window or any other decorations in which a white glistening decorating material is desired.

Heretofore, cotton and mica have been used for this purpose, the cotton to give the body and white efiect and the mica to provide the desired glisten. Cotton is objectionable due to its inflammable character and the mica separates from the cotton and is difiicult to clean up or remove. For example, where cotton and mica are used to simulate snow about a Christmas tree the inflammable character of the cotton is particularly hazardous where candles are employed on the tree and I find that the mica separates from the cotton and will so lodge itself in a rug and in corners that it is practically impossible to sweep it up.

It is to be understood that the present irivention is not to be limited to a particular use or purpose but may be employed as and where suitable or desired.

The material of the present invention is white and fiufl'y and may be packed or 1gathered to simulate snow. The material is omogeneous and the glisten is uniform through the material and is not separated in use therefrom.

The invention further provides a generally improved, simplified and inexpensive method or process of producing the material.

To acquaint those skilled in the art with the material and manner of producing the same, I shall now describe a particular embodiment of the invention.

According to the present invention, I prepare a solution of sulphuric acid and water in proportions which will, when suitably heated, dissolve natural gypsum or calcium sulphate and which will produce the white, flufl'y material here desired. Where commercial sulphuric acid is employed I find that Application filedAug-uat 24, 1927. Serial No. 215,257.

a solution of about commercial sul huric acid and about 90% water is suitable or the intended purpose, but it is to be understood that the particular proportions of sulphuric acid and water may be varied widely within the scope of the present invention to provide for the desired dissolution of the calcium sulphate, particularly with variations in the grade or concentration of the sulphuric acid.

Heat is then applied in any suitable or desired manner to raise the temperature of the solution of sulphuric acid and water, this solution bein preferably brought to the boiling point an the natural gypsum or calcium sulphate is then added to this heated or boiling solution of sulphuric acid and water, preferably in proportion to saturate or substantially saturate the sulphuric acid and water solution with the gypsum or calcium sulphate. I find that the addition of about 25% calcium sulphate or gypsum to about sulphuric acid and water solution is suitable for the purpose intended, although these proportions may, of course, be varied under the present invention. I 75 The mixture of sulphuric acid and water solution and calcium sulphate is agitated to thoroughly mix the same and then the mixture is passed through a suitable filter to filter out any material that does not go into solution.

The solution of sulphuric acid, water and calcium sulphate is then allowed to cool, preferably slowly and crystallizes into the form of a chemicallypure hydrous calcium sulphate (CaSO 2H O). v The material is then passed through a suitable filter to filter out or separate the crystals from the liquid and the crystals may be dried in any suitable or preferred manner and are then ready for use.

The cooling is preferably slow to make the crystals large, although the cooling may be faster where smaller crystals are desired. The resulting material has the white glistening appearance of snow and is non-inflammable. The material is white and flufiy and of considerable bulk and may be packed or gathered to simulate snow. The material is homogeneous and the glisten is uniform through the material and is not separated in sulphate to 75% The dilution of thesulphuric acid gives avoids the caked.

the desired flufiiness and porous mass formation which commonly results where calcium sulphate istreated with sulphuric acid.

I do not intend to limit the invention to the exact procedure or proportions above outlined, but intend to cover broadly the material as well as the above process which is simple, convenient and relatively inexpensive.

I claim:

1. An artificial snow material consisting of a white flufl'y crystalline mass of CaSO 2H O.

picture produc the calcium sul from the liqui material.

hate, separating-the crystals and drying the crystalline In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 2 the glisten will be re- 2. A decorating material consisting of a i fluify crystallinemass of CaSO 2H' O.

3. A decorating material consisting of a flufi'y, glistening calcium sulphate preparation.

4. A fiufi'y decorating material formed by treating calcium sulphate in a solution of sulphuric acid and water.

5. The method of producing a decorating material which consists in reparing a solution of sulphuric acid and water with the water in preponderance, heating and adding calcium sulphate to the solution, a itating the mixture, terial, slowlycooling to crystallize the calciuni sulphate, separating the crystals from the liquid and drying.

6. The method of producing artificial sno which consists in mixing calcium sulphate with a heated solution of sulphuric acid and water with the sulphuric bined in substantially the commercial sulphuric acid to substantially 90% water, cooling to crystallize the dissolved calcium sulphate and separating and drying the crystals.

7. The method of producing. artificial snow which consists in preparing a solution of substantially 10% sulphuric acid and 90% water, applyingheat to bring the solution to the filtering out the insolu le ma acid and water com proportions of 10% boiling point, adding calcium sulphate in substantially the sulphuric acid and water solution, agitating the mixture, the insoluble material, cooling to crystallize proportion 25% calcium Y filtering out 0th da. of August, 1927.

, RAL H w. SIMPSON. 

